WNBA All-Star Game 2022: ESPN Caps First-Half Schedule With Weekend-Long Showcase The production will deploy nearly 100 crew members onsite in Chicago, remote graphics in Bristol By Kristian Hern ndez, Associate Editor
Friday, July 8, 2022 - 7:00 am
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
After a prosperous first half of the regular season, the WNBA's brightest stars head to the Chicago this weekend for 2022 All-Star Weekend at Wintrust Arena. To celebrate the league's excellence and to bring awareness to current societal issues, ESPN will broadcast the two-day event with enhanced technologies, onsite crewing, and passion.
We definitely look at this [weekend] as an opportunity to make our coverage a little bit more robust, says Sara Gaiero, coordinating producer, ESPN.
Cinematic Addition: Megalodon Joins the Cameral Arsenal The 2022 WNBA All-Star Weekend calls for deployment of high-quality broadcast equipment, and, for this year's edition, the broadcaster is tapping a shallow-depth-of-field camera that has taken sports broadcasting by storm. Normally used for cinematic shots of live game action, which will be the case for Sunday's exhibition matchup between Team A'ja Wilson and Team Breanna Stewart, the camera will be deployed during the MTN Dew 3-PT Contest and WNBA Skills Challenge on Saturday, July 9.
Home to the 2021 WNBA Champions Chicago Sky, Wintrust Trust Arena will host the 2022 WNBA All-Star Game on Sunday, July 10.
We'll have a little bit more leeway to get up close to the players [on Saturday], says Gaiero. We'll be able to get some really intimate views and looks during those competitions.
In an effort to enhance coverage even further, ESPN is working closely with the WNBA and its executives for increased access in Chicago. The 2022 regular season has been highlighted by miked players and coaches and a sense of deeper storytelling, but, for a massive event like this one, Gaiero and company want to bring fans into areas not usually covered.
We're currently working with the league to add robos in some unique areas around the court that aren't covered 100% of the time, she says. The hope is that we can establish [those positions], use them on Sunday, and learn from it moving forward.
Along with new camera implementations, ESPN will take its miked-player concept to a new level. In-game interviews will take place during the exhibition game, but, on Saturday, Wilson will be miked throughout the 3-point contest and skills competitions. This will offer fans an insider's perspective on what it's like to participate in such events, how players interact with each other, and how it feels to be a part of WNBA All-Star Weekend, as well as a better understanding of the personality of one of the league's best athletes.
Working Onsite: Game Creek Video Takes Over Exterior Compound Instead of the full-REMI approach of the regular season, the broadcaster will have both production and operations teams onsite in the Windy City. Working outside Wintrust Arena, nearly 100 crew members (70 technicians, 20 production personnel) will be situated in the television compound. Game Creek Video is providing the mobile units, including Game Creek Justice for Saturday's festivities and Game Creek 79 for Sunday's showcase. The onsite plan covers the front bench and replay services, but REMCO [remote-controlled] workflow for graphics and scorebug operation will be located in Bristol.
From an operational standpoint, the weekend requires a fair amount of collaboration. Given the schedule of events, the broadcaster needed to establish two separate infrastructures: one at McCormick Place Convention Center for Saturday and one at Wintrust Arena for Sunday. Gaiero applauds the hard work and determination of the teams, led by Operations Manager Leigh Michaud and Managing Director Michael Sullivan.
Our operations team has done a terrific job with building these two sites and finding efficiencies since we're right next door to each other, says Gaiero. Building up to this weekend has been quite the undertaking for them.
Like this conversation with Phoenix Mercury's Sophie Cunningham during the July 4 game vs. Los Angeles Sparks, in-game player interviews will be conducted during the All-Star Game.
Within both footprints, ESPN will deploy onsite studio coverage of each day's events. For the halftime show during Sunday's game, LaChina Robinson and Carolyn Peck will be seated in an intimate set on the court. As for the call, Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, and Holly Rowe will be behind the mic on Saturday and Sunday.
Alongside the linear coverage, ESPN's digital and social teams will provide coverage. Social Media Specialist Britne McCoy-Davis and Senior Social Media Specialist Terrika Foster-Brasby will generate original content for ESPN and espnW TikTok and IG Reels, featuring content from players and talent on all digital channels. WNBA Hoop Streams Presented by Google - hosted by Christine Williamson and available on ESPN's Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube platforms and the ESPN App - will precede the All-Star Game at 12:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Storylines: Broadcasts Will Raise Awareness on Brittney Griner, Retiring Stars Besides the on-court action, the league will continue to do what it does best: raise awareness for important issues that are bigger than basketball. One at the top of everyone's mind is the prolonged detainment of eight-time WNBA All-Star and 2014 WNBA champion Brittney Griner in Russia. For more than four months, Griner's situation has caught the attention of both the league and the entire sports world. The league has paid tribute to her throughout the regular season, including her initials and number imprinted on all 12 home courts. The tributes have continued into the midseason
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
06/05/2026
Gravity Media Chief RF Communications Engineer Glenn Willems uses Wisycom RF over Fiber and wireless solutions across major cycling events and international mar...
06/05/2026
A Sennheiser Spectera module is now available in Bitfocus Companion and Buttons, enabling direct integration of Spectera with the two software platforms. The mo...
06/05/2026
Ted Turner, the visionary media entrepreneur whose appetite for disruption helpe...
06/05/2026
Peacock is going all-in on the beautiful game - streaming all 104 FIFA World Cup...
06/05/2026
New pricing tiers for vocal/dialogue restoration tool
NoiseWorks Audio's AI-powered vocal and dialogue processing plug-in is now available in three diff...
06/05/2026
Popular mixing & routing software overhauled
Following a recent public beta test, RME have launched the final release version of the powerful mixing and rou...
06/05/2026
New SOS Video Feature
Focusrites ISA C8X is a milestone product that brings together the companys analogue heritage and their expertise in digital audio. Yo...
06/05/2026
Polands Miecznik-class frigates are part of the largest contract in Polish shipbuilding history. (Image Credit: PGZ Stocznia Wojenna)...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Riedel Communications today announced the expansion of its leadership structure as part of a strategic initiative to strengthen both its operational management ...
06/05/2026
For nearly three decades, Veteran Production Sound Mixer and Five-time Emmy Award Winner Dirk Sciarrotta has helped define the sonic identity of the long-runnin...
06/05/2026
ZEISS CinCraft LensCore: Cinema Lens Looks for Compositing
Brie Clayton May 6, 2026
0 Comments
ZEISS announces the launch of CinCraft LensCore, a nove...
06/05/2026
Wisycom Solves Extreme RF Challenges Across Miles of Live Action for Gravity Med...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Narrative Entertainment has partnered with Encompass to deliver high-quality subtitling of its Great! network content using the Altitude Intelligence AI assiste...
06/05/2026
SipRadius, widely recognized for making content processing and connectivity secure and seamless, is proud to launch a dramatic new approach to AI content creati...
06/05/2026
When the broadband and media industry gathers at ANGA COM in Cologne from May 19 to 21, Big Blue Marble will be at the forefront. The international broadcast an...
06/05/2026
Cinegy GmbH, a leading developer of software-defined television technology, is proud to exhibit at MPTS for the first time. Visitors to the stand will discover ...
06/05/2026
Val Jeanty Receives 2026 Doris Duke Artist Award Jeanty, a composer, percussionist, and turntablist, is the fourth Berklee recipient of the prestigious award ...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
When live cycling races and international marathons stretch for miles across cities and countryside, there is no margin for RF failure in live broadcast. As Chi...
06/05/2026
Oberkochen/Germany, May 5, 2026
ZEISS announces the launch of CinCraft LensCore, a novel solution for creating physically based cinematic lens looks for visual...
06/05/2026
06 May 2026
VEON's Kyivstar Authorized to Resell Starlink for Businesses & ...
06/05/2026
UKTV has secured the exclusive rights to the early back catalogue of iconic Australian drama series Neighbours, following a landmark content deal with Fremantle...
06/05/2026
Wednesday 6 May 2026
Sky commissions feature documentary to mark 10th anniversa...
06/05/2026
Wednesday 6 May 2026
Sky and Formula 1 agree long-term partnership across UK, Ireland and Italy
Sky in the UK & Ireland to remain the home of Formula 1 until ...
06/05/2026
Sky Zero Footprint Fund-backed TV campaign launches nationwide, supported by new...
06/05/2026
Wuppertal May 6, 2026
Riedel Expands Leadership Structure, Appoints Marc Engro...
06/05/2026
SAN JOSE, Calif. - May 6, 2026 - Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announced its latest broadband innovations for ANGA COM 2026, highlighting its vision for a new e...
06/05/2026
Statement from Rupert Murdoch, Chairman Emeritus, Fox Corporation on Ted Turner&...
06/05/2026
Friday 8 May on RT One and RT Player
Meet the NSPCA team caring for and protecting animals in need in this six-part series
Fly on the wall, six-part series...
06/05/2026
The race to build the world's most powerful AI factories demands networking ...
06/05/2026
How changes to proteins can alter drug interactions for new precision therapies Scripps Research team maps how chemical modifications to proteins affect drug bi...
05/05/2026
Experts from the world of academia, tech, business, politics and media convened for a Thomson Talks at the Cambridge Disinformation Summit in April. It's th...
05/05/2026
Three phones were hardwired for power and transmission to the truck; camera feat...
05/05/2026
The creative studio behind campaigns for the NBA, Fanatics Sportsbook & Casino, ...
05/05/2026
Nielsen has announced results from a co-viewing pilot program covering February&...
05/05/2026
viztrick AiDi, an on-device AI solution developed by Nippon TV, delivered global...
05/05/2026
ARRI has announced Omnibar, a battery-powered, IP65-rated multi-color LED linear...
05/05/2026
Imagine Communications has announced that France T l visions is the first broadc...
05/05/2026
The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and Bell Media today announced a multiyear agreement to broadcast and stream WNBA games in Canada beginni...
WNBA All-Star Game 2022: ESPN Caps First-Half Schedule With Weekend-Long Showcase The production will deploy nearly 100 crew members onsite in Chicago, remote graphics in Bristol By Kristian Hern ndez, Associate Editor 
